PHILADELPHIA — Maryland barely exorcized memories of its most brutal loss of a year ago while nearly revisiting the theme of its forgettable 2011 finale.
The Terrapins outlasted Temple 36-27 at Lincoln Financial Field on Saturday. In doing so, they matched their win total from all of last season.
Naturally, it wasn’t easy for an inexperienced team that barely survived William & Mary in its season opener.
Maryland (2-0) built a 26-3 halftime lead, then nearly squandered all of it as the Owls (1-1) closed within 29-27.
However, the Terps pieced together an 11-play drive capped by Justus Pickett’s 7-yard touchdown run with 2:51 to play.
Pickett’s score and linebacker Demetrius Hartsfield’s interception on the ensuing possession effectively ended any chance of Maryland repeating its meltdown at the end of last season. The Terps blew a 27-point lead in the second half in what became a 56-41 loss to N.C. State.
Maryland encountered trouble thanks to four turnovers, all fumbles by true freshmen. Temple scored 17 points off Terp giveaways.
It was a more promising day for freshman quarterback Perry Hills, who rushed for a score and tossed touchdown passes to Matt Furstenburg and Marcus Leak in the first half. Hills was 11 for 21 for 190 yards for the day.
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Patrick Stevens has covered Maryland and other Mid-Atlantic college sports for more than a decade. You can reach him at 64plus4@gmail.com.
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